Unified English Braille (UEB)

2015 is the year that has been designated in the UK for the introduction of the new Unified English Braille code (UEB)

The UK Association for Accessible Formats (UKAAF), which sets national standards for the industry, decided in 2011 that UEB should be the UK’s official braille code. We now join all the other major countries in the English Speaking world which have come together for the first time to use a single common standard.

Since 2011 RNIB has been working with UKAAF to train teachers and introduce children to the code. Since last summer all our children’s books and magazines have been sent out in UEB. Next summer, exams will start to be in UEB. UEB is a single code which covers all subject matter so children no longer have to learn technical codes to read maths and science.

In 2015 RNIB (along with other major braille producers in the UK) will be transferring all braille production across to UEB. If you read books and magazines in Standard English Braille (SEB) you shouldn't notice much difference. Our research showed that nearly 90 per cent of people could read it without any difficulty or could read it but more slowly than usual. Also only new library titles will be produced in UEB, the old Standard English Braille stock of over 20.000 titles will continue to be available for loan.

Find out more

To see what UEB is like before the transfer, you can order a free sample by emailing [email protected] or phone our Helpline team on 0303 123 9999. If you would like a single page summary of the key changes these can also be obtained by contacting the helpline.

For lots more information about UEB, including answers to some frequently asked questions, visit UKAAF's website.

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